Page 22 of Wicked Proposal
No one’s ever done that before.
“I said you can’t have her,” Yulian growls. “She’smine.”
Wait, what?
My heart jumps in my throat.
Mine,he said.She’s mine.
Warmth explodes at the center of my chest. I have no idea why, or what it’s about. I just know it’s the second time tonight that Yulian Lozhkin has done something for me no one else ever dared. The second time hesavedme.
What I don’t know iswhy.
My gaze flies between Yulian and Brad. Brad’s face is twisting with fury—a very predictable reaction.
But Yulian?
He doesn’t let go of me.
He doesn’t budge.
Hestays.
God only knows what that means.
8
YULIAN
“You can’t have her. She’smine.”
After I speak those words, I realize three things at once.
One: the room has gone silent.Deadsilent. All whispers have ceased, every scandalized gasp fizzling out like an old soda can. Even the bride has stopped hyperventilating.
Two: Mia’s fallen silent, too.
It’s concerning. This filterless woman, who hasn’t stopped sassing me all night long—now,she decides to be quiet? It makes me wonder just who the hell this guy is to her.
And why she looks so damn terrified of him.
Three: my business deal just went out the fucking window.
Brad Baldwin.Around five years ago, the smarmy piece of shit inherited Baldwin Construction, his father’s multinational conglomerate. Ever since, he’s been swimming in money, luxury, and lucrative requalification deals. Deals I’d wanted to get intobadly enough that I chose to willingly suffer through a whole night of socializing at his wedding.
A wedding that is clearly no longer happening.
Brad smirks, stepping towards Mia again. As if he already owns her. As if I’m just some poor schmuck who hasn’t gotten the memo yet.
“Yours?” He sneers. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. You see, she belongs to me.”
“No,” Mia tries to protest, but it comes out broken, brittle. “I’m not yours.”
“But you are.” His lips curl, revealing a row of white, perfect teeth. His left canine is slightly crooked, like a fang grown too sharp. “I’ve been searching everywhere for you. To think this is where I’d finally find you. Couldn’t stay away, could you, sweet thing?”
Behind me, Mia’s body starts shaking. I can feel her hand crushing mine, holding on for dear life. As if begging me not to let her go.
It makes dark fury bubble up inside me.
